Process of producing an ore-flotation agent



HARLEY CANNON, CLARENCE BARBRE, AN'D EUGENE H. LESLIE, OF LOS AN G-ELES,

CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS TO GENERAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION, A CORPO- RATION OF CALIFORNIA.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING AN ORE-FLOTATION AGENT.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HARLEY CANNON, CLARnNon BARBRE, and EUGENE H. Lnsmn, all citizens of the United States, each residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Process of Producing an Ore-Flotation Agent, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to the art of ore flotation. In that art, finely pulverized ore is mixed with certain oils and the mixture is agitated to form a froth which is separated from the mass and which contains valuable mineral products. In this art the materials which are used to cause the valuable mineral products to appear in the froth are variously referred to as flotation or frothing agents.

In carrying on the process a material must be used which possesses two qualities, first the quality of adhering to the mineral particles of the ore and not to the gangue, and the property of forming a suitable froth when agitated with the water and the mixture of ore. These two qualities are not commonly found in any one substance and it is ordinarily necessary to prepare a compound which contains various materials best suited for the purpose. This compound really contains two classes of materials,

one of which may be called the oiling ma terial and the other-called the frothing material. The oiling material serves to oil the mineral particles and the frothing material serves to form a stable foam or froth in which the mineralparticles are floated.

The object of our invention is to provide a process by which a frothing agent can be provided. 4

Further objects and advantages will be made evident hereinafter.

In the previous art various flotation agents have been used among which may be mentioned pine-oils and other wood oils, creosote and other tar oils and certain other vegetable and animal oils. We have discovered that the waters which are found naturally associated with petroleum, or other waters which have been associated with or in contact with petroleum or petroleum products, and especially waters which have been associated with petroleum products durmg certain refining" operations are par- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Application filed October 8, 1917. Serial No. 195,453.

' ticularly valuable as frothing agents. We

extracted from the petroleum during their association therewith, which renders them valuable as frothing agents, although we do not wish to limit ourselves to any such theory, contenting ourselves with stating the facts as we have found them. It is probable that only waters which have been separated from petroleum in such a manner as to carry water soluble agents with them are of value for this purpose.

In addition to the petroleum waters it is necessary to use an oiling agent such, for example, as gas oil, this oiling agent being introduced into a suitable flotation machine. In practice it is often desirable to add the gas oil or other oiling agent and the petroleum waters to the ore during the grinding process, the ore, together with the petroleum waters and oiling agent. being introduced into a ball mill in which the ore is finely ground and in which an intimate mixture of the ore and the flotation agents is produced. This mixture is delivered to a suitable flotation machine. I

Where it is desired to transport the petroleum waters a long distance it is desirable to concentrate them to reduce their bulk. We have found that if such petroleum waters are subjected to the action of heat their efliciency as frothing agents is reduced, probably by the evaporation of certain of the valuable constituents thereof.

For the purpose of concentrating petroleum waters we have developed the following process:

The petroleum waters are treated with some cheap alkali substance such as calcium hydroxid or sodium hydroxid. an excess of alkali being provided so that the resulting solution is slightly alkaline. This solution can then be concentracted by evaporation and can be transported to the pla e where it is desired to use it. At its place of consumption we preferably treat it with sulfuric acid for the purpose of forming calcium or sodium sulfates and releasing the valuable frotliing materials originally contained has been associated with or in contact with petroleum or its products, alkali wash or wash waters from the refining of petroleum products,"and particularly waters which are a by-product of cracking processes, or waters which have been in contact with cracked oils. The term petroleum water also includes these Waters in either their natural state or substances formed by evaporation from such waters.

What We claim is:

L A process of producing an ore fiotation agent which comprises extracting adding to this extract certain quantities of acid at the place of consumption for the purpose of acidifying the extract.

2. 'A process of producing an ore flotation agent which comprises extracting Water from mixtures containing water and petroleum oils, and concentrating said water by evaporation to facilitate shipment.

A In testimony whereof, We have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles, California,

this 1st day of October, 1917.

' HARLEY CANNON.

CLARENCE BARBRE.

EUGENE H. LESLIE. 

